PhillyPolice Blog

Scareware: What is it? How do I avoid it?

Scareware is the moniker given to programs that maliciously trick users in to thinking that their system has been infected with a virus and you must download (and pay for) a specific program to remove the virus. They often generate a bogus pop-up message that looks similar to this:

Typically, the messages warn that a large number of severe viruses have infected your computer. In reality, there is nothing wrong with your computer and clicking on the Cancel button or ‘X’ to close the window can actually install malware on your system. This is known as clickjacking.

If you see one of these messages on your computer:

DO NOT click anywhere in the window.

Press <Alt>+<F4> to close the browser.

Or press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete> to open the Task Manager. Then click the name of the program in question and choose “End Task.”

DO NOT pay the requested fee. Often, your credit card will be charged and your computer will be unusable. Then you will be out cash and your computer won’t work.

If your computer is running slow or just doesn’t seem right, seek out a qualified computer technician.

The best way to avoid scareware altogether is to ensure your computer is updated and has a good antivirus program. Most modern operating systems (Windows, OS X, Linux Distros), software applications and antivirus programs will notify you when updates are available. Some can even be set to install the updates automatically.

A little bit of prevention and knowing what to do can save you a huge headache when it comes to computer viruses.

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the nation's fourth largest police department, with over 6600 sworn members and 800 civilian personnel. The PPD is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for serving Philadelphia County, extending over 140 square-miles in which approximately 1.5 million reside.